"
"In that case I can only say one thing. You are a man of honour.
Do your best not to make her uselessly unhappy. Win her if you
can, by any fair means. But she has a heart, and I am very fond of
the child. If any harm comes to her I shall hold you responsible.
If you love her, think what it would be should she love you and be
married to another man."
A shade of sadness darkened Corona's brow, as she remembered those
terrible months of her own life. Gouache knew what she meant and
was silent for a few moments.
"I trust you," said she, at last. "And since you are going to-
morrow, God bless you. You are going in a good cause."
She held out her hand as she rose to leave him, and he bent over
it and touched it with his lips, as he would have kissed the hand
of his mother. Then, skirting the little assembly of people,
Anastase went back towards the piano, in search of Donna Faustina.
He found her alone, as young girls are generally to be found in
Roman drawing-rooms, unless there are two of them present to sit
together.
"What have you been talking about with the princess?" asked Donna
Faustina when Gouache was seated beside her.
"Could you see from here?" asked Gouache instead of answering. "I
thought the plants would have hindered you.
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